Will DeSmit, APCC
Somatic Therapist
Beverly Hills & West Los Angeles, California & Online
Burnout, anxiety & health
Somatic, IFS, attachment, art therapy
LGBTQIA+, sexuality & gender identity
Addiction & recovery
Couples, families, children & teens
Previously in marketing & talent recruitment
My specialities
I specialize in psychodynamic and trauma informed care, including IFS parts-work and mindfulness-based therapies to help clients integrate and regulate their nervous systems to heal from the effects of trauma and suffering.
I work with individuals on a range of issues including:
Anxiety
Depression
Addiction & all stages of recovery
Complex trauma & PTSD
Chronic Pain & Health Conditions
Sex addiction
Compulsive behaviors
Life transitions
Relationship challenges
Couples & relationship systems
LGBTQIA+ affirmative care
Identity exploration
Family of origin healing
Therapy with me
I believe therapy is most effective when we begin from a place of curiosity, compassion, courage and care. My training is trauma-informed, strengths-based, and rooted in an integrative approach to healing. The work we do in therapy is often challenging and painful. I work to provide a safe, supportive environment where exploration, healing and change are supported and encouraged.
I am influenced by Internal Family Systems (IFS); feminist, queer and postmodern theories; attachment theory; psychodynamic theory; polyvagal theory, and mindfulness. During a session, I may draw on various tools and perspectives including somatic exercises. My training as an Art Therapist means we can integrate creative work into your healing.
My background
Previous to becoming a therapist, I worked as a consultant to nonprofits, supporting talent and recruitment. Prior to that, I worked at Warner Brothers marketing television shows. I enjoy spending time with my family and pets, outdoor activities, especially tennis, and all kinds of TV & Film.
“Wherever you are beginning,
I hope to meet you there.”
Training
MA, Clinical Counseling & Art Therapy w/ a focus on LGTBQIA+ Affirmative Care
BA, New York University, Education & Social Work
Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor #18657
Supervised by: Steven Bradshaw, LMFT #136584
Treatment approach
Psychotherapy is a great tool to help you understand yourself at a deeper level, find purpose in your life, and address obstacles that are hindering you from reaching your goals. The result is a more integrated self, enabling you to achieve more satisfying ways to live and foster healthy and fulfilling relationships with people in your life.
In addition to my relational approach, I teach practices that support your nervous system to move toward regulation, or homeostatic balance. These practices teach you how to be with challenging sensations without bracing to allow energy to shift and release, rather than accumulating in your body. Over time, your window of tolerance expands so that your nervous system naturally spends more time in parasympathetic, or “rest and digest,” even as you move through the world .
In the process, I help you to unburden the original traumas that live on as hypersensitivity to threat. To do this, we need to meet and befriend the protective parts that over or under react to present situations. With more understanding and acceptance, these parts calm down and start to work together as a team, helping you to become more responsive and vital.
I help you build a personalized tool-kit to manage your symptoms going forward. When you stop fearing your symptoms they lose power over you and they begin to fade. Clients often report forgetting about symptoms as their life comes back into the foreground.
Services and fees
I offer in-person and online sessions for:
Individuals $200 (50-minute session)
Couples $250 (50-minute session)
Adolescents & Teens $200 (50-minute session)
Feel free to ask if sliding scale ($150) is available.